Old Woman
What is that smile?
Do you know something I should know?
Living in this cave house for the past 80 years—
Bound feet—but apparently not your spirit.
Someone asked to what you attribute the long life you’ve lived.
“Living underground—warm in winter and cool in summer!”
Is that all there is to it?
Or have you learned somehow to receive life as a gift?
I wanted to tell you about my visit to the Forbidden City
Where so many of your emperors lived, sitting on golden thrones.
Or that I climbed up the Great Wall just two days ago.
But you just sit there and smile
At your daughter
At your grandchildren
At me.
You sly old dragon lady
Just sitting there
Sitting and smiling and loving life as it is.
Milan Hamilton
October 11, 2007
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